Abdulrahman Al-Ali Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — The National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) has demanded doubling the penalties against employers who fail to comply with the mid-day ban on outdoor work in peak summer months. The society stressed that current penalties were insufficient. The Ministry of Labor has issued a stern warning to employers against forcing their workers to toil under the hot sun from July 1 until the end of August. It said all outdoor workers should get rest from noon to 3.00 P.M. The Presidency of Meteorology and Environment (PME) had forecast that temperatures could reach 51 degrees Celsius in parts of the country this summer. The NSHR called for deterrent punishments against firms that ignore the ban order and urged the Ministry of Labor to intensify surprise visits to work sites. The society also proposed a toll-free number at the Ministry of Labor to report any violation of these measures by the public. It stressed the need for educating employers and workers on the dangers of forcing laborers to work under the hot sun.
